Shoe stiffener heating apparatus



Oct. 1, 1963 J. 5. KAMBORIAN ETAL 3,105,250

SHOE STIFFENER HEATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1961FIG. 2

IN VEN TORS f m 5 HS 0 mm l ATTY WM Oct. 1, 1963 J. s. KAMBORIAN ETAL3,105,250

SHOE STIFFENER HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2IIl-FI /34C A36 C INVENTORS Robe/"2 B. Dun/0,5 BY Jacob S. KamborlonATTV W/VMM Oct. 1, 1963 J. 5. KAMBORIAN ETAL 3 SHOE STIFFENER HEATINGAPPARATUS 5 Sheet-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 1961 I308 I328 430C I326INVENTORS Robe/*2 B. Dun/0,0 BY Jacob 5. Kambor/an A rrr W; a

United rates Patent 3,1t 5,259 SHGE STZFFEr ER HEATING AIEARATUS 1i acobS. Karneorian, West Newton, and Robert E. Damian, la'iedway, Mass; saidDunlap assigns: to said Kamborian Fitted Apr. 5, 1951, Ser. 1. o.1659.995 it) Ciairns. (iii. 152-5421) In pending application Serial No.90,874 filed February 21, 1961, there is disclosed an apparatus forheating a shoe stiffener lying within a pocket formed on a shoe upperwith an exposed portion extending upwardly of the pocket. The heatingapparatus has the purpose of conditioning the stiffener as one of thesteps in carrying out the method disclosed in pending application SerialNo. 80,919 filed January 5, 1961. The heating apparatus comprises aheated block having a convex surface about which the upper and stifieneris draped with the portion of the stiffener concealed within the pocketbearing against the block surface. Above said biocl; surface, a step isprovided having a plurality of ports therein through which heat d airpasses to impinge on the exposed counter portion. A clamping pad isrrounted for movement toward and away from the block to clamp the upperand stiffener against the block and thereby heat the stiifener.

An object of this invention is to ensure that when the upper is drapedabout the block, the exposed stiffener portion will be opposite the stepin the block and the concealed counter portion will be opposite theblock surface below the step. To accomplish this, a gage is providedthat bears against the block surface and is vertically adjustable fordifferent shoe sizes. When the gage has been adjusted for a given shoesize and the upper draped around the last is brought to abut against thegage, the exposed counter portion will be accurately positioned oppositethe step in the block.

it has been found that it takes a longer period to heat the shoestiffener in the apparatus of the aforementioned application Serial No.90,874 filed February 21, 1961, than it takes to perform the succeedingheel seat lasting and stiffener forming step described in theaforementioned application Serial No. 80,919 filed January 5, 1961. inorder to allow the operator to heat a plurality of stiifeners at a timeand have them available in heated condition at periodic intervals, theinvention provides for a plurality of heating stations h re disclosed asfour, and a control for operating the stations so that, at any giventime, one of the stations is open and the others are closed. Upon theactuation of a control the first station closes and the next stationopens, and this sequence continues in seriatim upon each succeedingactuation of the control. A selector switch is provided which whenactuated causes two of the stations to stay permanently in closedposition and permits the remaining two stations to be actuated inseriatim as heretofore described.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

PEG. 1 is a front elevation view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view partly in section of one of the stationsof the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View to an enlarged scale of the gage adjustingmechanism taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of E16. 3;

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuit for the apparatus;and

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the air flow lines used in controlling theapparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a plurality ofstifiener heating stations, NA, 10B, 16C and 18D mounted on the topplate 12 of a base 14. At each station there is a block 16, made of aheat conductive material such as aluminum, secured to the plate 12 byseveral threaded fasteners 1.8, one of which is shown in FIG. 2.insulat-ive spacers 2d are mounted on the fasteners 15 and interposedbetween the block 16 and the plate 12 to provide an air space betweenthe block and the plate. The block has substantially planar bottom andtop faces 22 and 24, an arcuate, convex rear face 26 corresponding inshape roughly to that of the heel end of a shoe last, and a front face27.

The block has an indent in the shape of a step 28 at the junction of thesurfaces 24 and 26. The step has a tread 39 substantially parallel tothe face 24 and a riser 32 substantially perpendicular to the face 24.An air duct runs beneath the top face 24 from the front face 27 to aposition adjacent the rear face 26. The front end of the duct 34- isclosed by a plug 36 threaded into the block 16. An air duct extendingupwardly from the bottom face 22 intersects the duct 54. A hoilow nipple4% is threaded into the block 16 at the bottom of the duct 33. Thenipple it; is connected to an air line 42 which in turn is connected toa source of air pressure (not shown). A plurality of air ports 4-4extend from the duct 34 to the riser 3.2 of the steps 2% and intersectthe riser at spaced intervals along its length. Electric heatingcartridges 46, the bottom of one of which is shown in FIG. 2, areprovided in holes in the block 16, and are connected to a source ofpower. A thermostat 48 is positioned in another hole in the block.

At each station, the cylinder 5% of an air operated motor 52 is mountedon an L-shaped bracket 54 which in turn is secured to the top plate 12.A piston rod 56 eX- tends forwardly of the cylinder. Air entering a port58 of the cylinder through a line 60 will project the piston rodforwardly of the cylinder, and air entering the cylinder through a port62 from an air line 64 will retract the piston rod. A U-shaped clampingpad '66 is connected to the piston rod 56. The connection between thepiston rod and the clamping pad includes a U-shaped rigid bar 63connected to the piston rod and a U-shaped leaf spring 76 interposedbetween the pad 66 and the bar 68. The legs of the springs are connectedto the legs of the pad and a lost-motion connection 71 is providedbetween each clam-p leg and the contiguous bar leg.

The structure thus far described is similar to that disclosed in theaforementioned application Serial No. 90,874 filed February 21, 1961, towhich reference may be made for a more detailed disclosure thereof.

Each block 16 has a gage 7?. bearing against its surface 25. The gage isa substantially L-shaped member having an abutment surface 73 at the topof its upright leg. The prone leg of the gage is pivotally connected atpivot '74 to a bevel gear 75 that is rotatably mounted in a hanger 76depending from the plate 12. A compression spring 78, that is interposedbetween the upright leg of the gage and a block 8% dependent from theplate 12, resiliently urges the gage about its pivot 74 to cause theupright leg to bear against the block face 26. The gear o 75 is in meshwith a bevel gear d2 that is rigidly mounted on a shaft 84 which isrotatably mounted in a hanger 86 depending from the plate 12.

The base 14- includes a vertical front plate 83. The shaft 84 extendsthrough a clearance opening 9% (see FIG. 3) in the plate 38 and has ashoulder 92 approximately in line with the exterior surface of the plate88 to form a smaller diameter shaft extension d3 projecting outwardly ofthe plate 83. A disc 94, having a notch 96 in its periphery, is looselymounted on the extension 93 and bears against the shoulder 92. A collaris loosely mounted on the extension 93 outwardly of the disc 94 andbears against the disc; The collar is keyed to the extension by means ofa roll pin 1% that is press fitted in the collar and has its innerextremity resting in an elongated groove 162 in the extension 93. A nut194 is threaded onto the end of the extension 93 and bears against thecollar 98. The pad 66 has a cut-out 1136 to accommodate the gage 72. 1

The workpiece treated at each station comprises a shoe upper 108 havinga liner 110 stitched thereto at its heel end so as to form a pockettherebetween which receives a counter 112 (see FIG. 2). As describedmore fully in the aforesaid application Serial No. 90,874 filed February21, 1961, the upper ends of the counter and upper are substantiallycoextensive while the upper end of the liner is below the upper ends ofthe counter and upper. This provides an exposed counter portionpositioned above the liner and a concealed counter portion positionedbehind the liner. The workpiece is draped around the surface 26 of theblock 16, and is clamped thereagainst by actuation of the motor 52 tocause the pad 66 to bear against the block 16. The concealed counterportion is heated by heat being conducted from the block 16, which isheated by the heaters 46, through the liner 110. The exposed counterportion is heated by air going through the line 42, ducts 3-8 and 34 andports 44 and impinging against the exposed counter portion, the airbeing heated during its passage through the block. Should the exposedcounter portion be so located that it bears directly against the block16, this will have a deleterious effect as the heat of the block willtend to distort the counter material and adversely affect adhesive thatis coated on the counter. The gage 72 is so located, that for a givenshoe size, when the lower surface of the work rests on the abutment 73,the exposed counter portion will be opposite the indent 28 and theconcealed counter portion will be opposite the block surface 26. Inorder to adjust the location of the gage 72 when changing the size ofthe work, indicia are provided on the front plate 88 about the peripheryof the disc 94 (see FIG. 4). The numeral registering with the notch 96indicates the size work that the gage is set for.

The counter heating apparatus is designed to render the counters flaccidas a step in the method described in the aforesaid pending applicationSerial No. 80,919 filed January 5, 1961. In accordance With said method,after the counters are heated, the uppers are placed on a last in a heelseat lasting machine where the counters are molded to the shape of thelast and the uppers are lasted to an insole that is placed on the last.Since the lasting machine can last a shoe in a shorter period of timethan it takes for the counter to be heated to the desired extent, it isdesirable that a plurality of the counters be heated at differentstations at one time and that a counter at one station be ready forinsertion into the lasting machine while the counters at the otherstations are being heated.

In operating the apparatus, the gage '72 is initially adjusted to raiseor lower the gage for the size shoe that is being worked. This is doneby rotating the collar 98, which due to the splined connection betweenthe collar and the shaft extension 93, causes rotation of the shaft 84.Due to the nut 11%, collar 93, disc 94 and shoulder 92 bearing againsteach other, the rotation of the collar also causes the disc to rotate.The rotation of the shaft 34, through the gear train 73, 32 causes thepivot 74- to swing about the axis of rotation of the gear 75 with thegear 75 acting as a crank. This in turn raises or lowers the gage '72.The spring maintains the gage '72 hearing against the block surface 25,in all positions of adjustment of the gage. During the rotation of thecollar 93 and disc 94, the indica registering with the notch 35 willindi- Cate the size shoe for which the gage is set. Should it be founddesirable to reset the disc 5 4 without moving the gage in order tocalibrate the disc, this may be done by partially unscrewing the nut164, and backing off the collar 8 along the shaft extension 93 with thepin 1% riding in the groove 1%2. This will loosen the disc so that itmay be rotated to the desired position on the extension 93. When thedisc is in the desired position it is reclampcd between the collar 93and the shoulder 92 by tightening the not 164.

The four stations are so controlled that at a given time one of thepads, say at station 149A, is in open position and the remaining padsare in closed position. The power tor the heaters 46 is turned on toheat the blocks 16 and air is caused to go through the blocks 16, tothereby heat it, and to emanate fromthe ports 44. A workpiece is drapedabout the block 16 at station 10A so as to rest on the abutment surface73. The control is now actuated to close the pad at station 1iiA tothereby heat the work and concomitantly open the pad at station 1033 toallow the operator to place a workpiece in station 1933. Successiveactuation of the control will open station 16C and close station 1liB,open station MD and close station 19C, open station 19A and closestation 191), and so on serially. When workpieces have been placed atall the stations, the operator will take a workpiece from the openstation and bring it to the heel seat lasting machine to mold thecounter and last the shoe and place a new workpiece at the open station.He will then actuate the control to open the next station and bring theworkpiece at that station to the lasting machine and place a new'workpiece in that station, and continue this operation at succeedingstations each time he operates the control. in this manner, there isalways a workpiece that has been heated long enough to be in conditionto be presented to the lasting machine when the lasting machine is readyto receive it;

The machine may optionally be operated using only two stations, saystations 10A and 103, so that one actuation of the control will openstation 142A and close station 10B, the next actuation opens station 16Band closes station 10A. In this situation stations 10C and 16D would bein closed position at all times.

The electric circuit shown in FIG. 5 and the fluid pressure circuitshown in FIG. 6 may be used to carry out the above described sequence ofoperations.

Referring to FIG. 5, the electric circuit includes a switch 116controlled by a foot pedal (not shown) which when closed momentarilycauses current to flow from a power source labelled L1, L2 and pulse thecoil 118 of a latch relay 129. The relay 120 is a commercial item having24 contacts labelled (11 through i124 and a switch blade 122 thatindexes clockwise about pivot 124 from one contact to the next contacteach time the coil 118 is pulsed by attracting an armature that isconnected -by a ratchet and pawl mechanism to the blade 122. The switchblade 122 is connected to the source of power by lines 126 and 128. Thecontacts a1, a5, a9, (113, 1117 and Q21 are connected to solenoids 130Aand 132A, the contacts a2, a6, r110, r114, Q18 and a22 are connected tosolenoids 13GB and 132B, the contacts 03, a7, all, 1115, 1119 and (Z23are connected to solenoids 130C and 132C, and the contacts :14, a8,(112, (I16, n20, and a24 are connected to solenoids 130D and 132D.

The solenoids 130A, 139B, 13tlC, 133D are respectively connected tovalves 134A, 1343, 134C and 134D so that when the solenoids aredeenergized air pressure does not flow through the valves from thesource of air pressure, but air in the lines from the motors 59 to thevalves are vented, and when they are energized, air pressure flowsthrough the valves into the motor 50 at the associated station A, 10B,16C or 10D in a direction to retract the piston 56 into the cylinder 50and thereby open the station. The solenoids 132A, 132B, 132C, and 132Dare respectively connected to valves 136A, 136B, 136C and 136D so thatwhen the solenoids are deenergized, air pressure flows through thevalves into the associated motor 52 in a direction to project the pistonrod 56 out of the cylinder 50 and close the station, and when they areenergized, air pressure does not flow through the valves from the sourceof air pressure, but air in the lines from the valves to the motors arevented through the valves.

The electric circuit includes a selector switch unit 138 that has foursingle pole double throw switches b, c, d, and e, that are movable inunison from the contacts b1, 01, d1, 21 to or from the contacts b2, c2,d2, e2. When using all four stations, the contacts b2, 02, d2, 22 areclosed.

The movement of the switch blade 122 to engage a contact connected tothe solenoids 130A and 132A causes current to flow through the contactof the switch 129 to the solenoids 139A and 132A to energize them andopen the station 10A. The movement of the switch blade 12 2 uponmomentary closing of the switch 116 to engage a Contact connected to thesolenoids 13913 and 13213 causes these solenoids to be energized andstation 1913 to he opened and, at the same time causes station IGA to beclosed due to the deenergization of the solenoids 136A and 132A. Thenext actuation of the switch 115 causes a movement of the switch blade122 to engage a contact connected to the solenoids 130C and 132C throughthe contact d2 of the switch d to thereby close the station 10B and openthe station 10C. The next actuation of the switch 116 causes the switchblade 122 to engage a contact connected to the solenoids 133D and 132Dthrough the contact e2 of the switch e to open the stat on 10D and closethe station 100. Thus successive actuation of the switch 116 causes thestations 10A, 1GB, 1%C and 10D to be opened in seriatim, the precedingstation being closed when each station is opened.

The actuation of the selector switch unit 138 to cause the switches b,c, d and e to respectively engage the contacts b1, c1, d1 and 21 causesthe solenoids 136K), 132C, to be energized at all times through thelines 126 and 148 and the contact d1 of the switch a, and causes thesolenoids 139D and 132D to be energized at all times through the lines126 and 140 and the contact e1 of the switch 2. The movement of theswitch blade 122 to a contact that would normally energize the solenoids130C and "132C instead energize the solenoids 139A and 132A through theswitch b, and the movement of the switch blade 122 to a contact thatwould normally energize the solenoids 139D and 132D instead energizesthe solenoids 13GB and 1323 through the switch 0. In this manner, thecontrol circuit may be set to maintain the stations 10C and 10D open atall times and to cause stations 18A and 1013 to be alternately closedupon each actuation of the switch 116.

When the machine is operated, air pressure continuously enters the airlines 42 and passes through the blocks 16 after first going through arestrictor valve 142.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsthat come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A shoe stiffener heating apparatus comprising: a heated block havinga convex surface; an indent above said surface; at least one port insaid indent through which heated air is adapted to flow; an L-shapedgage, having an upright leg and a prone leg, located adjacent said 6surface; a spring bearing against the gage to resiliently urge saidupright leg against said surface; a rotatably mounted crank pivo-tallyconnected to said prone leg; and means to rotate said crank.

2. A shoe stitfener heating apparatus comprising: a frame; a heatedblock having a convex surface mounted on said frame; an indent abovesaid surface; at least one port in said indent through which heated :airis adapted to flow; an L-shaped gage, having an upright leg and a proneleg, located adjacent said surface; a spring bearing against saidupright leg to resiliently urge it against said surface; a crankrotatably mounted in said frame to which said prone leg is pivotallyconnected eccentrically of its axis of rotation; and a shaft geared tosaid crank extending outwardly of the frame.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said frame has indiciamounted thereon adjacent the shaft; and register means cooperative withsaid indicia is mounted for rotation with said shaft.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said register meanscomprises a disc, mounted for rotation with said shaft, having a notchadapted to register with said indicia.

5. A multiple station shoe titfener heating apparatus comprising: aplurality of stiffener heating stations, each of said stations having apair of relatively movable clamps for clamping a stiffener while it isbeing heated; a motor at each station for effecting relative movement ofsaid clamps toward or away from each other to thereby close or open thestation; a control means connected to said motors, said control meansmaintaining certain of said stations open and the remainder of thestations closed; and means responsive to successive actuations of saidcon trol means to cause said motors to open said stations in seriatimand concomitantly close the previously opened stations.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 :further having a controlmodifying means, and means responsive to actuation of the controlmodifying means to deactivate certain of the stations and permit theremainder of the stations to be operated in seriatim in response tosuccessive actuations of the control means.

7. A multiple station shoe stiffener heating apparatus comprising: aplurality of stiffener heating stations; a block at each of saidstations "for heating a stiffener; a clamping pad cooperative with eachblock to clamp the stiifener the-rebetween; a motor connected to eachclamping pad to move the pad toward or away from its associated block tothereby close or open the station; a control means connected to saidmotors to actuate the motors to open one of said stations and close theremaining stations; and means responsive to successive actuations of thecontrol means to cause said motors to open said stations in seriatim andclose the previously opened station.

8. In a shoe stiffener heating apparatus having a plurality of stiffenerheating stations for heating shoe stiffeners, each stiffener beinglocated in a pocket formed by a liner and an upper with a portion of thestiffener concealed within the pocket and a portion exposed outside ofthe pocket, and wherein each of said stations comprises a heated blockhaving a surface adapted to bear against the liner to heat the concealedstiffener portion; an indent adjacent said surface; means in said indentto permit heated gas to flow against the exposed stiffener portion; amovably mounted clamping pad; and a fluid operated motor connected tothe clamping pad to move the pad against the block and thereby close thestation and to move it away from the block and thereby open the station;the improved control for said apparatus comprising: valve means at eachstation operatively connected to the associated motor to normally closethe station; switch means connected to said valve means to maintain atleast one of the stations open with the remainder of the stationsclosed; and means responsive to successive actuations of the switchmeans to actuate the valves at the stations in seriatim to open thestations in seriatim and concomitantly close the previously openedstations.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising: an optionallyoperable selector switch; and means responsive to actuation of theselector switch to actuate the valves at certain of the stations tomaintain the stations continuously closed and to permit the remainder ofthe stations to be opened in seriatim upon successive actu ations of theswitch means.

10. A shoe treating apparatus comprising: a block having a surfaceagainst which a shoe part is adapted to bear; a gage located adjacentsaid surface having an but- 8 ment surface at its top; a spring bearingagainst the gage to resiliently urge the abutment surface against theblock surface; a rotatably mounted crank pivotally connected to the gagebelow the abutment surface; and means to rotate the crank to therebymove the abutment surface along the block surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,326,112 Stubbs Dec. 23, 1919 1,349,699 Gorsuch Aug. 17, 1920 2,271,682Dodge Feb. 3, 1942 2,719,992 Macdonald Oct. 11, 1955

1. A SHOE STIFFENER HEATING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A HEATED BLOCK HAVINGA CONVEX SURFACE; AN INDENT ABOVE SAID SURFACE; AT LEAST ONE PORT INSAID INDENT THROUGH WHICH HEATED AIR IS ADAPTED TO FLOW; AN L-SHAPEDGAGE, HAVING AN UPRIGHT LEG AND A PRONE LEG, LOCATED ADJACENT SAIDSURFACE; A SPRING BEARING AGAINST THE GAGE TO RESILIENTLY URGE SAIDUPRIGHT LEG AGAINST THE GAGE TO RESILIENTLY MOUNTED CRANK PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO SAID PRONE LEG; AND MEANS TO ROTATE SAID CRANK.